In days gone by, new roads were often celebrated with a grand opening ceremony and the issue of a commemorative booklet heralding the exciting new highway. You'll find some of them here, complete with a glimpse of all that empty tarmac and a healthy dose of modernist optimism.

Upgrade work at M25 junction 10, where the motorway crosses the A3. The scheme is intended to relieve the chronic congestion suffered at this busy junction. At present all turning traffic passes through one large signalised roundabout which is operating beyond the limits of its capacity for significant parts of the day.

A large number of options were considered for the work, including radical plans to replace the junction entirely with a new free-flowing four-way interchange of one type or another. However, there are now two options remaining which have gone out to consultation.

Upgrade of several sections of the M25 to Smart Motorway between junctions 10 (the A3 at Wisley) and 16 (the M40 at Denham).

The M25 already has some Smart Motorway technology along this full length, and was in fact the first motorway in the UK to have Variable Speed Limits, which have been operational here for at least 20 years. This scheme is therefore not a standard Smart Motorway project, and instead it will introduce All Lane Running at four specific locations:

Improvements to M25 junction 28, the interchange with the A12 and A1023 west of Brentwood, to alleviate congestion that is currently a frequent problem. The existing junction is a Three Level Stacked Roundabout but extremely high volumes of turning traffic make the signalised roundabout a serious problem.

The preferred route, announced in summer 2017, is option 5F which will provide a very large looped sliproad from the anticlockwise M25 to the eastbound A12. New bridges will allow it to cross the existing sliproads to and from the roundabout.

The aims of the scheme are to increase capacity and reduce congestion on a busy section of the A13 between M25 J30 and the A126 Lakeside access. Improvement of the transport infrastructure in this area is seen as critical to the further development of the Lakeside Basin and Thames Gateway.

Exact details are still to be finalised, but the scheme is likely to include improvements to M25 J30 and widening of the A13. The restricted access junction of the A13 and A126 (Lakeside) may also be targeted.

An upgrade of the existing roundabout and sliproads at the junction between the M25 and A10. The scheme is intended to improve the performance of the junction and improve reliability for all traffic, specifically reducing the regular queues on the sliproads that tail back on to the mainline of the motorway. It also aims to reduce the number of collisions at the junction, improve pedestrian and cycle facilities and increase overall capacity.

At present, three options are proposed, all of which will involve improving the existing layout.

This project will remove the permanent toll boths from both sides of the Dartford Crossing, the busiest river crossing in the UK and a major source of congestion. In its place will be an electronic congestion charge scheme allowing payment in advance or by midnight the day following the crossing.

The toll plazas will be replaced with four continuous traffic lanes in each direction and a holding area for special loads.

Removal of the hard-shoulder to create four running lanes and the addition of Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs) as part of the Highways Agency's Smart Motorway programme. The scheme is 'All Lane Running' as the removal of the hard-shoulder suggests.

The scheme is intended to increase capacity and reduce congestion.

This replaces the previous proposal for dynamic hard-shoulder running, which replaced the previous widening proposal!

A scheme to increase capacity on the M25 between junctions 5 and 7 by introducing hard shoulder running. The scheme may involve work to strengthen the hard shoulder so it can be used as a running lane.

Works to widen the M25 to dual four-lane carriageways between junction 1B and the A2. The A2 will be widened from dual three to dual four-lane carriageways between the M25 and Bean, where previous widening works finished. New direct sliproads will be added to the A2/M25 interchange between the northern and eastern arms.

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The UK's widest motorway is not where you might expect to find it — in fact, it's on the unassuming M61 near Manchester. This gallery offers an overhead view of one of the UK's most unique and spacious interchanges.